Combination automatic car feeding and stopping mechanism



a Sheets-Sheet 1 G. W. MERRITT Filed Oct. 18, 1926 COMBINATION AUTOMATICGAR FEEDING AND STOPPING MECHANISM Aug. 28, 1928.

Gzelzn Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,718

G, MERRITT COMBINATION AUTOMATIC CAR FEEDING AND STOPPING MECHANISMFiled Oct. 18, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ea I ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1928.1,682,718

G. w. MERRITT COMBINATION AUTOMATIC CAR FEEDING AND STOPPING MECHANISMFiled Oct. 18, 19 25: 5 sheets-snug 3 ,2 5 Glam 19 M INVENTOR ATTORN EYAug. 2s, 1.928. 1,682,718

' G. W. MERRITT COMBINATION AUTOMATIC CAR FEEDING AND STOPPING HECHANISNFiled Oct. 18. 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,718

G. W. MERRITT COMBINATION AUTOMATIC CAR FEEDING AND STOPPING MECHANISMFiled Oct, 18, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ruplnunu lunnunuuluglnl"Inlnmulllllllllprlunnnuallplln-llIIIIIIIIIIIIllll'llllqlllIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIII- 67am VIZ/V97 6?'INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug 2a, .1928. 1,682,718

G. W. MERRiTT COMBINATION AUTOMATIC CAR FEEDING AND STOPPING MECHANISMFiled Oct. 18, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 'llllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

WITESTATES PAT'FEN ems *GLEain'w. MEBRITT, 0F isownns'roiecnio. i i

oomnmarronnuronnrro can FEEDING Annsnorrms Manama npplicat-ion neeOctober is, 1925, see s inane,

This invention irelates to certain novel iniprovcments in combinationautomatic car feeding and stopping mechanism and has for its principalohject the provision ofan inc proved construction of this .characterwhich will be highly efiicient in. use and economical in manufacture.

A nong the salient objects of this invention is the prov1s1on forautomatically controlling the starting of and passage of m ning cars ifrom one point to another and from a track to awhoisting cage or dump orscale or, in fact, from any polnt of delivery of the cars -on the trackwhereby the starting of each successive car being dependent upon theautomatic operation ofthe dev1ce brought into play Whcnthe preceding carhas reached a point for transfer onto the cageor to the dump or hasproceeded so far on ts Way that thesucceeding car. of the. cars will beauto matically stopped.

Generally expressed, the purpose of the invention 1s to .PIOVlClG a smple combmatlon and arrangement ofpartsrfunctioning to lreepthe carsofthe series following each when operating upon mining cars, Willnotdamage or otherwise deteriorate the same.

A still further ohgect oil the invention 13 the provision of a device oithis character,

trated in Figs. 1 and Qaytra kiVayQO alonglm Which the n 'ining carsrhovedfor pest. tioning npon the. traokway 22 0f the cage 23,;

This traclnvay 22 at its ,end portion toward a the cage 23 is slightlyinclined as at 25 Where: by when thezpcars 211m automatically re 1 whichnot only automatically controls successive movement mining. cars butalso provides cushioning".mechanism therefor.

Othen objects Wlll appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts to hehereinafter (LlESCl'lbGfl and claimed.

The invention Will be best understood reference to the accompany ngdrawings illustrating the preferred form of construc- Lion ofgmyinvention, and in which;

showing ect of invent-l on is the pro- Fig. .1 is a plan vievvofmechanism con structed in accordance with my invention. Fig. same.

Eris a inthc device.

Fig.3 is a :1 a sl ghtly niodifiedgform of con- 4L 1sasideelevationalview of the structi on.

same.

Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive are detail views of the automatic controlmechanism, embodied: 1n the lnventlon showing the control mocha- 1;

nisln associated with aha'ge.

.Flg. 81s a plan toward the bottom of the cage illustrated in Figs. 6 toinclusive.

Fig.9 is aplan vi of a modifiedtorihiof Fig. 10 is a plan View showingthe control 2 is aside elevational View ofthje.

dent or a an employed VleW looking upwardly 75 construction over thatillustrated Fi 'al.

mechanism associated wlithwhatisknoyvn in I the art ass kickback dump.

fied forms of stop mechanism asillustrated Fig. 16 is a sectionaldetailviewltaken suh stantiallyonline16+16 or Fig-1'5. u

In mining operationsitgisfthe ordinary Figsyll to 15 inclus veareldetailed modi-i practice to; provide a trackwayFor series oftrackways along and lover which cars are adapted. to pass fortransmission onto a. cage or to dump ng mechanlsnt. Asitflis thecusflu mFe snet' err de ap j s e se r movements of the carsit is necessary topro-i videinechahisinwhich Will cont-rol the sucj, cessive' movements oithe cars Without damage to the same and at the same timepref ventinterferencegivith the rapid succes ve movement. a E if It 18,therefore, one of thernany objects of this invention to providemechanism I which ill be automatically operated by a icage forcontrollingsuccessive movement of .100

the carszand in. this connection I have illus leased they will move lhyef ravity onto the cage v23.

e mechanism illnstratedin Figsfl and.

il lu 2 for controlling the movement of the cars 21. n

the. rails 27 of the trackway the plate 26 being positioned forwardly ofa scale platform 28 whereas the plate 26 is disposed between thescale-platform 28 and the cage 23.

'by relieve the strain on the cars which engage stop latches 33. Thesestop latches are formed of any suitable material as will best serve thepurpose andare pivotally connected tdthe plates 26throughthemedium ofbrackets 34 and pintles 35. The stop end port1ons40 which are adapted toengage latches define ears36 which arepivotally connectedto ears'37through themedium of pintles 38: These ears 37 are formed as an:

integral art of latch arms 39 having curved edge portions 41 of a fixedblock 42.

When the-stop latches are disposed in the position illustrated in Fig.2with the latch arms disposed with their curved end portions inengagementwith the fizredblocks 42 the is temporarily suspended.

stoplatches are adapted to. be engaged by the bumpers 43 of the cars 21anduntil the latch arms 39 arereleased fromfengagement with the fixedblocks42 movement of the cars The means for sengaging the latch arms v39fri)n fixed 1 blocks 42 includes lifting levers llfwhichare*pivotallyconnected as at 45 totheplates 26. These lifting levershave end portions lti which are disposed beneath the curved end portions40 and are adapted when pivotedabout their pintles 45 to disenga blocks42 p i g The means for pivoting thelifting levers includes arockablymounted shaft 47supported for rocking movement by suitablestae"thelatch arms from the fixed tionary bearing brackets 48 carried bystationary supports 49. 'This shaft 47 carries spaced collars 5O defininlateral ears 51 to which corresponding en portions of chain members 52'are connected. ,The opposite correspondingend portions of these chainmembersare connected to theend portions ,53of the lifting levers 44.

When the lifting lever 47 is rocked in anti-clockwise direction thecollars will cause the chain members 52 to pull onthe lifting leversHand pivot these liftinglevers in a clockwise direction to disengage thelatch armsfrom the fixed blocks.

The means for rocking the shaft47 in an anticlockwise direction includesa collar 54 carried by the end portion 55 of the shaft 47 and securedthereto by a pin 56. This collar 54 has secured thereto a laterallyextending arm 57 which isadisposed in the path of a trip arm 58icarriedby the cage 23 and secured thereto as at 59 by any suitable securingelements.

When the cageis disposed in loading position the trip arm 58 will engagethe MIH57 and rock this arm in anti-clockwise direc tion. To completelythrow the shaft in either direction I op'eratively associate with theshaft 47 a tensioning spring 60wh1ch has one end portion connected tothe trackway 20 and. an, opposite end portion connected to a lateralprojection 62 formed as an int gralpart of a collar .47 as at 64; a i VNVhen the stoplatches33are engaged by the bumper 43 these stop latcheswill be yield- 63 secured to the shaft ably pivoted todispose themselvesin a plan to permit passage of the cars 21 thereover and these stoplatches are returned to stopping position throughthe medium of springmembers 65 as best shown in Fig.2.

The mechanism for'rocking the shaft 47 in a clockwise direction includesa rocker arm 66. This rocker arm is disposed con tiguous one of therails27 and is adapted to be ciigaged by the flange of one ofthe wheelsof the cars 21. The rocker arm 66 is secured in any suitable manner to apxntle pm 67 which extends through a suitable bracket 68'- carried bythe trackway 20 and secured to the lower end portion of the pin 67 inany suitable manner is an operating arm 69. The outer end portion 70 ofthis operating arm is connected to one endportion of a chain mem' ber.71 and the opposite" end portion of this chain member 71 is connectedto a lateral extension 7 2 of the collar 73 secured to the shaft 47 asat 7 4 in any suitablemanner.

The construction is such that when the rocker arm 66 engaged by theflange of the wheel the pin 67 will be pivoted and cause the operatingarm 69 to exert pull on the chain member 71 which in turn will rock theshaft 4'7 in a clockwise direction. The shaft rocking in this clockwisedirection will dispose the lifting lever 44 in the position illustra'tedinFig. 2. it being: pointed out that at 5 this point ot the operationthe springs 65 will have disposed-the latch arms in position to arrangetheir curved and portions 40 in engagement with the fixed locks 42.

Fromtheabove description itwill be seen that both of the bumpers 33amoperated by a single shaft 47 thus providing mechanism for the purposewhich is common to both stop members. It will be further seen that thebumpers are simultaneously disposed in a position to permit passage ofthe cars 21. and

llilv Ill;

junction with the that likewise the bumpers are simultaneously disposedin position to stop movement of the cars. It will beseenthetthemechanism above described is simple in structure and ispositive in its operation.

In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive the mechanism disclosed operates on the sameprinciple as the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 landil and aspreviously stated, this ine'chanisn'l isedapted to control the movementof the cars upon the lli tlng cage or scale and as thetreolnvay of thecage forms a continuation of the track indicated at andas shown in 1this cageincliides a trip arni151 which isadapted to engage a lever152pivotally supported by a pintle pin 153 having its endportionsjournalled in su table bearlng brackets 1541. Connectedtothe endportion155 of the lever 152 lit member 162' 11s is a connectingr0d156"which has its outer end portion connected as 215015,? to alifting lever 158. a liztting'flever 158 is adapted to engage a lateharm159 ,having its end portion 160 pivotally connected asat to a bumper1ne1nberif162g When the bumper in an elevated position, for

rather generally speaking in car stopping position, theend portion 163of the latch arm 159 is adapted to detacheblyengage a latch block 1641.When the cageis brought-in a position tofldisposefthe trip arm 151inposi} tion to pivot thelever152 in an'anti-clockwise direction thelifting leverj158 will 'be pivoted about itsfpivotal support 158 toengage the end portion 1 65 in.positionto disa engage the latcl11a1 in163 fi'oinlengee enicnt with the keeper and thiswill per wit the bumpermember 162 tobe forced i 'ronr car stopping position against the actionof a spring member 166 which spring ineniber normally retains the bumpermember 162 in car stopping position. As shown in Fig. 3

i the bumper member 162, is pivotally'sup ported in summer substantiallysimilar to 1' i that disclosed in Fig. 1 and, therefore, referencecharacters will be used to designete similar parts inthis construction.i i t The lower end portion of thebu nper memhere 162 has an opening 167formed therein which slidably recelves an end portion 158 of anoperetingrod 169]1he endportion 170 of this operatingrod has a head formedtherein as at 171 andthishead is adapted to be engaged by the endportionlZZ otithe bumper member 162 for jreasons hereinafter setforth.The end portion 173 of the operating' rod 169 is pivotally "connected asat 174 to an arm 175w111eh is termed as tegral partot e bell crank 1'56.

Stop member-S 177 are pivotally connected. e

asat 1785i]. anyfsuitableinanner at points contiguous the outer sides ofthe rails 179 of a trackway T. These stop members 1?? are pivotallyassociated with the rails 17 9 where by they can be pivoted in aposition to ob-' struct travel of a car alongthe trackway as shown inFig. 1. This pivotal. niov'emcnto'l" the stopinembers is accomplished byconnecting the stop members through the 1116(11111'11 ofl connectinglinks 180 to the bell crank 176 j J The operating rodltiil iscontrolledin its movement inone direction by a springinenr it her 181which has one end portion (not Afterthe car 21 has passedi'roin thetrack *ay onto the cage 150 the spring 166 will act uponthe bumpermember 162 and shown) connected toa stationary support.

pivot this biini'per nieinberintocar stopping position with suchforcethat the end" pol tion172 of the bumper H1II1lJGTl62 will be brougzl'it into" engagement with the head 171 ancl-ihovethe operatingr'od in adirection to pivot thestop members 177 from car stop ping position toperinit the succeeding car i 21 to move into engagement with the biimp'er162. t t

In Figs. 5 to 8inclusivc the mechanism in; cludes a supporting bracket 75 pivotally supporting the stop latch 76 whichflisadapted to be engagedby the binnpers 4:3 trustees 21. Pivotally associated withthis stoplatchis a latch arm 77 having an end portion 78 'which is adapted toengage a fixed block 79.

This end portion 78 ofthelatch arm is adaptedto engage an end portion 80otaflitting lever-81 whichis pivotally connected asst 82' V to abracket83; The stop latch 76 in this in stance is likewise returned to itsnormal position as illustrated in Fig chum of a sprmgBSft:

ides for; pivoting the.

ltlechanism 1s prov lifting lever 6throughttheinea;

latch arm 77 intoengageinent with the fixed block 7 'll'ii's mechanismincludes a rocker arin carried by a pintlep n 85 secured in any approvednewneto the cage new 86. This rocker armBdis disposed conti 5111- oilsthe rail tl'ie trackwey and is likewise adapted to y be fei ga ged by aflange 'of the wheels: 87 of the cars 21. The

lower cndfportion of this pintle pin carries an operating arm 88 wl'iichhas ":1 b lateral extension" 89 connected to one end portion of a fchainmember 90. Thc opposite-end portion of thisYchainmember is connected 92.tion 93 which is"cohncctedfltda depei ling: projection through themedium otnut members 95. This depending projection9et 'to a link 91pitotally connected to an erin 9 l The arm 92 has a threaded endj porlie1 81.iIlWDIllijtSPlVUt 82in permit; the positioning of end portion 78 0fthel 1 by the flange of the wheel 87 the pintle pin 85 will be caused torock the arm 88 in a direction to exert pull on the chain member 90.Thischain member 90 will slide the slide bar 90 in the direction oftheadvance of the cars 21 and when moved in this direction theliftinglever 81 will pivot in a a for the reasons above outlined.

downwarddirection to dispose its end portion from engagement with theend p01 tion 78 permitting the end portion 7 8 to engage the fixed block79 to retain the stop latch 76 in the position illustrated in Fig. 6.

\Vithin the cage well IV is arranged a knock-off stud 98 disposedinthepath ofthe end portion 99 of the lifting lever when said liftinglever is disposed with its end portion-80 in engagement with the endportion 79. When the cage 23 arrives at the bottom of the well IV the.stud 98 will engage the portion 99 of the lifting lever 81 and pivot.this lifting lever in a" direction to cause the end portion S0 to bearagainst the end portion 79 of the latch arm 7 7 and disengage the endportion 7 8 from engagement with the fixed block 29thus permitting thestop latch to be disposed in a position to permit passage of thecar 21thereover. After this car 21 has left the trackway of the cage 23 thesucceeding car isnow ready to be moved onto the trackway of the cage 23and inthis movement of the succeeding car the rocker arm 84: will beengaged by the flange of the wheel 87 and cause the operating arm 88 tobe rocked From this description it will bemanifest thatI likewiseprovide a simple combination and arrangement'ofpartstp permit thefeeding and discharge of mining cars from a cage and I wish at this timeto say thatthe dump well known in the art without departing from thespirit ofthe invention. 7

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated the mechanism as. shown Figs. 1 andincorporated with stop mechanism disclosed in my application tiled inthe United States Patent Oliice on or about March 5, 1920,Serial No.92,522; and i in this mechanism there areincluded stops arranged forrolling movement into the path of the wheels of the mining cars 21 tostop movement of these cars and to hold .the same untilthey are readyfor movement 1 seen that theirpivot connection is below the intoengagement withthe bumpers 33; This (EOIISUHCI/lOI I IS well known andfully described in U. 8. application above mentioned and need' not befurther described in detail with the. exception that the links 1' whichcontrol operation of the stops 100 are operativelyconnected to the shaft47 throu 'h the medium of a collar 5. a i b In Fig. 10 I haveillustrated my improved adapted to pass to the loading station andvthetrackway 102 over which the loaded cars are adapted to passwhenpermitted to do so by my controlling mechanism.

In this instance as shown in FigflO the empty cars control thesuccessive movement of the loaded cars and to accomplishthis a collar103 is secured to the shaft 47 as at 104 and thiscollar 103 defines alateral extension 105 to wlnchis pivotally connected an arm 106 of acollar 10? fixed as at 108 to a rocker V shaft 109. This shaft 109 issupported for rockable movement by suitable bearing brackets 110v andthe end portion lll of this shaft 109 has secured thereto thetriplmechanisin 112 which is of a well known construc tion and. need notbe further described in detail with the exception of stating that whenthe trip arm 112is engaged by the mining car the shaft 109 will berocked and impart rockable'movement to the shaft inopposite directionsfor the purposesherein set forth.

In Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive I Wish to call attention to various forms ofsto "latches which' may be used in conjunction wit rmy improvedmechanism and, as will be hereinafter understood, any one of these stoplatches may be substituted for either the stop latch 33 or 76,

and their associated parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention. A brief description with reference to each of these modifiedformsof stop latches will be briefly outlined and atthis time it ispointed out that the o oration ofthe, shaft 17 and its associate hereindescribed.

In Fig. 11 the bumper 113 is pivotally connected as'at 114 to a bearingbracket 115..

The bumper 113 has a laterally extended portion 116 to which anendportion of the: latch mechanism can be embodied with y a rotary 117is-connectedas at 118. This latch is of elbow construction comprisinglinks 119 and 120 pivotally connected together as at 121. The link 120is pivotally connected by a pin 122 to a bracket 123. This pin 122 hasfixed thereto a link 124: to which an end portion line of alignmentbetweenthese links thus preventing self pivotal movement of the links119 and 120 by the weight of the bumper member 113. The lifting lever 44in this in stance has an end portion 127 which engages Inn parts .issubstantially similar to that asagna beneath.thepivotalconnection 121and when pulled downwardly thisend portionlil? will act upon thepivotal:connectionto throwthe pivotal connection? int-anupward:direction permitting the bumper 113 topirvottroi'n car stoppingposition. i'lhcilitting lcveret is held in its normal posit on throughthe 1ne-' dium ofa s iring member 128.

In Fig. 121 have shown a slightlyinodilied form of construction overthat shown in Fig. i 11 and in this form of construction the littinglever-14A is dispensed With. and substituted therefor is: a slide plate129 which, when in its normal position, is disposed beneath and" inengagen'ient' with a tailportilon l3 )of the link 1120. The links 119and 120 are noirmally heldwith their pivotal connection in bearingrelation with respect to the itixed bloclt 129 through the mediumiofthetspringl member 127. lhe operation ofthis constructibnpis suchthat'when the plate .129 is moved to the left the tail portion 130Willbe" released to permit the pivotal connection 121 to pivot in anupward direction to allow the, bumper member 113 to be disposed from?car bumping;

position. a 1 1 1 i a a, i t

In; Fig. 13 thelormotconstruction shown in this figure embodies thebumper; 131. a 1111 this formoi construction it Willbe seenthatIdispense with; the links 120 and 119 and substitute therefor the bumpermember 131 which has a lateral s egmentalportion 132 normally supportedbythe slide plate 129. whenuthe slide plate 129 15; moved to therightthe seg-l mental portion 182 oat:thebuinpermember 131 will bepermittedyhyoits Weightto .piyot the bumper member l3l-f110111carst'opping LPQSL tion. it a 1 In Fig. 14 the structureincludes thebumper member 113 which has pivotally connected thereto as at118ltl1elatch:133.- The latch 133 has itsmuter end portion 13451101311311?disposed when the bumper member 113 is inucar stopping position inengagement mamas fixedgstop block 135. The lifting lever in this form ofconstruction includes anend portion 136 which pivotally carries atriplinger which isadapted to engage? the end portion 13% when the liftinglever leis pivoted about its pivot 138. When the lever dais pivoted:

about itspivot the tripfinger 137 willengage the end-portion 13 1 anddisengagethelatch ture including bumper disposed in the path I ofmovement of the cars, sa d lmmperstruc turelncluding a lat-charm piotallyconnect for engagement with the outer end portion of the latch armfOI lIOlClHig said bumper in this instancehas a recess 113" formedtherein for thepassage of the nner end portion ofthe latch 139; Theytripmechanismiis adaptedto pull down upon thelatch 139 and pivot the sameabout its 'pivotllO; This downward 7 pulling-mm einent disposes theinner end pora tion of the latch 139 in; apositionctorwpassage throughthe recess 138 as the bumper unember 1l3'p1votstro1n carStOPPIIIgPOSifiiOIL 'Vi lhile. I have illustrated and described the 7preierred forn of construction for carrying a my. invention111toQellect,-tl1is is capable of variation and modification Withoutdeparting from thespirit 01" i the invention; there tore do not ish tobe limited towthe precise details of construction (set fortlnbut desireto avail myself of such Variations andmodificm tions as comewithin thescope of the appendt ed claims, i 1 Having thus described my invention,What I clain as new anddesireitoi pi'otect byi LettersPatent is: I a .1i a i 1M 1. In a de vice o f theclass described; the combinationwithatiyackway, and cars adapt-1 ed for movement-l along saidtracklwaygof a bumper structure disposed between the trails of thetrackWay,-said bumper structureimin eluding a pivotallysupportedbumper;means l for releasably lioldingmsaid bu nperflin thepath or movement of the cars, means for dis-t engaging said holdingmeans to permitisaid bumper topivot bynioveinent of the-cars frombumping position, and means operable on said bumperstructure-forresetting the bumperin the path of movement oft the cars.

21111 a device ofthe class described, the a combinationwith a traclcwayandycars mov able alongsaid trackway, of a bumper struc-l I i tureincluding acbuniper disposed in the path of movement oflthe oars, saidbumper som 10a ture including a latch arni pivotallyficonw nected to.sai dbumper and a fixed blockadapt ed iror engagement ith the outer endper-1' tlon of the latch arinfor holding saidfbuinper in position to beong-aged bysaid cars, eandi lm v means operable on said latch arm fordisen gaging said latch arm fronrsaid fitted block:

a 3. In a derice :of the class described, the] combinationwith atrackway and cars mov able along said trackn 'ay, ot a buinperstruci edto saidbumper and a fixed block adapted position to be engaged bysaidcars, means operable on-saidlatchuarm for disen agin J said latch armfrom said fixed bloch and means operable by movement of resetting saiddisengaging means.

4. In a device of the class described; Fthef l i combination with atrackway"andcars moi; able along said trackway,of abumper struc 1 11mture' including a buin ier" disposed in the path i the carsforofmovementof the cars, said bumper struc ture including a latch armpivotally connected to said bumper and a fixed block adapted.

mounted member adaptedito be engaged by r the wheels of the car,apivotally mounted lifting leverhaving an end portion adaptedforengagementwith the outer end portion 'of the latch arm andmeaus operablyconnecting the lifting lever: to said member whereby said liftingleverwill be pivoted by pivotal movementof said member.

5. Ina device of the class described, the combinationwith a trackway, ofa plate disposed between the rails of the trackway,

, means yieldably associating the plate with the rails'forllimitedslidable movement relative "to the rails, a bumper structure carried by:7 said plate, said bumper structure including a ivotally mounted bumpermemberhaving a atch-arm pivotally connected thereto, means releasablengaging said latch arm for bold ing'said umper member in the path ofcars movable along said trackway, and means operable on saidholdingmeans for permitting said bumper member to be disposed from thepath of movement of the cars. V

v 6. In a device of the class described, the combination with atrackway,of a plate disposed between the rails of the trackway, means yieldablyassociating the plate with the rails for limited slidable movementrelative u'to the rails, abumper structure carried by said plate, saidbumper structure including a pivot-ally mounted bumper member and meansfor releasably holding said bumper member in the path of cars movablealong said ,trackway, and means operable on said holding means forpermitting said bumper member to be disposed from thepath of movement ofthe cars, said last mentioned means including a lifting leverpivotally'associated with the plate, a rockable shaft. means for rockingsaid shaft and amember operatively connecting the shaft to the liftinglever wherebywhen said shaft is rocked in an anti-- clockwise directionsaid lifting lever will be moved into engagement with said holding meansfor releasing said holding means to permit, said bumper member to bedisposed'in said position from the path of movement of thecars. r v.

7. Thecombination with atrackway, stop members movableinto and out ofcar holding position relative to thetrackway, a bumper structuredisposed between the rails of the trackway, said. bumper structureincluding a pivotally mounted bumper memberadapted Vfor engagementfwitha portion of a car travelling along said trackway, means for retainingsaid bumper in car engagin position, alatch arm pivotally associatedwith the bumper member, adapted to release said bumper from saidretaining means, and means for simultaneously operating said latcharmandsaid stop members to permit said bumper member and said stopmembers to be moved into and out of car holding position. a

8. In a device of'the class described, the combination with a trackwayand a cage having a trackway adapted to be disposed to receive carsfromthe first mentioned trackway, a bumper structure movable intoand outof the path of movement of the cars as they pass along said firstmentioned trackway, means forreleasing said bumper structure to permitsaid movement of said bumper struc ture, a bumper structurerdisposedbetween the rails of the second mentioned trackway, saidsecondment-ioned bumper structure including a bumper member, a latch armpivotally associated with" the bumper; member, a member carried b thefloor of the cage for retaining said late arm in a position to hold saidbumper member in the path of movementof the cars on said secondmentioned trackway, and means operable on said latch arm for disengagingsaid latch arm from said member to permit the bumper member to pivotfrom the path of movement of said cars, said last mentioned meansincluding a pivotally mounted lifting lever adapted to be engaged by anoperating stud when said cage is lowered into loading position, a

9. In a device of the class described,the combination with a trackwayand a cage having a trackway ada ted tobe disposed to receive cars fromthe rst mentioned trackway, a bumperstructure movable into and out ofthe path of movement of the cars as they pass alongsaid first mentionedtrackway, means forreleasing said bumper structure to per mit saidmovement of said bumper structure, a bumper structure disposed betweenthe rails of the secondmentioned trackway, said second mentioned bumperstructure including a bumper member, a latch arm pivot-ally associatedwith the bumper member, a member carried by the floor of the cage forretaining said latch arm in a position to hold said bum er member in thepath of movement of t e cars on said second mentioned trackway, andmeans operable on said latch arm for disengaging said latch arm from topivot from the pathof movement of said cars, said last mentioned meansincluding a pivotally mounted lifting lever adapted to be engaged by anoperating stud when said cage is lowered into loading osition, and meansoperableby movement the cars for resetting said lifting lever inposition to said member to permit the bumper member ried bythe plate andengaging an end portion of said latch member, and means operable on saidlatch member for disengaging said end portion from said plate.

17. A bumper structureincluding a plate, a bumper member pivotallycarried by the plate and normally retained in stopping position withrespect to an object adapted to move over said plate, said bumper memberbeing adapted to pivot in one direction by. movement ofsaid object,means for resisting pivotal movemeutof said bumpermember insaiddircction and for returning said bumper member into stoppingposition, means for releasably retaining saidbumper member 111 stoppingposition, said means including a latch arm pivotally connected to thebumper member,a member carried bythe plate and engaging an end portionof said latch memher, and means operable onsaid latch member fordisengaging said end portion from said plate, said last mentioned meansincluding a lifting lever pivotally carried by the plate and having anend portion] adapted to operate on said latch arm for disengaging saidlatch arm iromsaid n'iember, and means for operating said lifting lever.

1 8. In a device of the class described, the combination with atrackway, and cars ada ed formovement along said traclnvay, o a bumperstructure disposed between the rails of the trackway, said bumperstructure including a pivotally supported bum er, means for holding saidbumper in the pat 1 of movement of the cars, means for releasing saidbumper from said holding means, theweight of said cars moving saidbumper from bumping-position and other means Controlled by the movementof said carsfor returning said bumper to car retaining position.

ing, in combination, at-rackway, a structure having a trackway thereonadapted to receive cars from said first mentioned trackway, and bumpermeansadapted to control the travel of said cars from said track v'ay tosaid structure, a retaining means adapted to be engaged by said bumpermeans carried by said trackway, said bumper means comprising a pivotallymounted portion and another portion adapted to engagesaid retainingmeans,

and a latch mechanism for releasing said portion from said retain ngmeans operated a by the movement of said structure.

i 20. Adevice of the class described including, in combination hav ng atrackway thereon adapted to recelve 19.- A device of the class describedincludl a trackway, a structure 7 cars from said first mentionedtrackway, a plate disposed between the railsof said first mentionedtrackway, means yieldably associating theplate with the rails forlimited slidable movement relative to said rails, bumper means carriedby said plate adapted to engage and retain cars on said trackway,

retaining means forsaid bumper means car ried by said plate, said bumpermeans compr sing a pivotally mounted bumper portion and a portlonadapted to engage said retaining means, and a latch mechanism forreleasing said )ortionfrom said retaining means operated ythemovementyof said structure :21. A device, of the class describedincluding, in combination, a trackway,a structure having a traclnvathereon adapted toreceive carslrom said first mentioned trackway, aplate disposed between the rails of said first mentioned trackway, meansyieldably associating the plate with the rails for imited trackway.

22. A device of the class described including, in combination, a trackwa,a structure having a trackway thereon a apted to receive cars from saifirst mentioned trackway, and bumper means adapted to control the.travelof said cars along said trackway and on said structure, certainof said bumper means being mounted between therails of said firstmentioned trackway and certain of said bumper means being mountedbetween the rails of said trackway on said structure, said bumper meansbeing arranged for simultaneous operation and embodying a pivotallymounted bumper portion and a portion adapted to engage retaining means,said retaining means being carried by said trackwaygand a latchstructure for releasing said portions from saidretaining means operatedby the movement of said structure.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GLENN WV. MERRITT.

